Letter-box.



PATENTED MAR. 27, 1906.

G. L. PASK. LETTER BOX. APPLICATION nLnnoc'T. 12,1905.

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. awuentoz George LI QSW I flbiomww No. 816,366; PATENTED MAR. 27, 1906.

G. L. PASK. LETTER BOX.

APPLICATION FILED OOT. 12,1905.

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Elwin/mm Gemyz LJ dSH I awn/ UNITE STATES LATENT @FFIQIJ.

LETTER-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 27, 1906.

Application filed October 12, 1905. Serial No. 282,477.

To Cl/ZZ- whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. PAsx, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elgin, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Letter-Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in letter-boxes.

It has for its object to provide a box which will be simple in construction, cheap of manufacture, and self-closing.

The invention consists, broadly, of a box comprising a fixed member and a pivoted member adapted to be opened sufiiciently to permit of the insertion of letters, &c., when ocked and which may be opened farther in the same direction when unlocked to remove the mail. I

The invention also consists in the details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the preferred embodiment of my inven tion, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the box attached to a post. Fig. 2 is a side view open to admit letters, part broken away to show the metal hasp engaging the staple. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the box closed. Fig. 4 is a side view of the box entirely open, as for removing the mail. Figs. 5 and 6 are detached perspective views of the fixed and pivoted members, respectively; and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form, having the stationary or cover portion extending down a short distance on the front.

While the preferred embodiment of my invention is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings and its construction and operation are clearly described in the following description, I reserve the right to make such changes from the constructions shown and described herein as the scope of the claims hereto appended will permit.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, in carrying out my invention I construct the box 1 of two membersa fixed member 2 and a pivoted member 3. Said fixed member has its upper portion beveled or inclined forwardly about two thirds of its length,

making the depth of the receptacle greater at the base, providing ample room for letters, papers, 620. Said fixed member forms a cover for the pivoted member at the sides and top and has a flange 1 extending over the upper edge of said movable member to prevent the entrance of moisture or dirt into the box. A second flange 5 along the rear edge of the fixed member is engaged by a metal strap or band 6, which may be secured to a post or support 7, whereby the box is held in position. The other member fits within the sides and top of said fixed member .and is pivoted thereto near the forward edge, preferably by small rivets 8, one on each side. The movable or pivoted member 3 is also pro vided With a laterally-extending flange 9, Which covers the space. between the two members, and said pivoted member has a curled lip or flange 10 at its upper edge extending just below the flange 4 of the fixed member, forming a smooth entrance for letters or other packages. The base of each member is cut away on opposite inclines or obliques. The fixed member is itself entirely open at the bottom and has a staple 11 fixed to its inner surface near the bottom. The lower end of the pivoted member is, however, closed by an inclined bottom 12, which extends upward and backward, effectually closing the space between the two members. When the pivoted member is actuated, so as to open the box, the rear edge of the bottom 12 passes up along the inner surface of the inclined back of the fixed member, always keeping the bottom closed and preventing the escape of any of the contents of the receptacle. A hasp 13 is hinged to the upper edge of the bottom 12 of the pivoted receptacle and is adapted to engage the staple 11, through which a padlock 14 is placed to fasten the box. The slot 15 in said hasp is long enough to extend slightly below the staple when the box is locked, thus permitting the pivoted member to be swung a little forward to leave a narrow slot or opening at the top for the admission of mail-matter. When the lock is removed and the hasp disengaged from the staple, the pivoted member may be opened to a distance of several inches to re move the mail. The construction of the parts are such and the pivots so located that the greatest weight of the pivoted member is rearward of the pivots, whereby said member is self-closing. The fixed member may be firmly held in place by bolts or screws 16 passing through the lower flange of said part.

In the modified form of box shown in Fig. 7 the pivoted member is shorter than the fixed member, the latter member extending some distance above the upper edge of the pivoted member, providing a stationary front surface upon which printed matter, such as U. S. mail or the name of the owner of the box, may be placed.

It will be noted that the hasp falls over and engages the staple of itself as the pivoted member flies shut, thus automatically locking the box.

This device is particularly adapted for use as a house letter-box and is also useful as a paper-holder.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

1. A letter-box comprising a fixed member and a pivoted member, and means whereby the pivoted member may be secured to open only a short distance to admit articles thereto and whereby it may also be released to open still farther to remove its contents.

2. A letterbox comprising a fixed member and a pivoted member, said pivoted member self closing and locking and when locked adapted to be opened a short distance to admit articles thereto but when released adapt ed to be opened farther to remove its contents.

3. A letter-box comprising, a fixed member having an oblique back and open bottom and front, and a pivoted member adapted to close said front and bottom, and means to lock said members together so that they can be separated sufficiently to admit articles thereto and when released may be separated farther to remove its contents.

4. A letter-box comprising a fixed member having its back partly oblique and its front and bottom open, and a member, pivoted to the fixed member, adapted to close the front thereof and having an inclined bottom adapted to close the bottom of the fixed member, the rear edge of said bottom adapted to move along close to the inner surface of the oblique portion of the back of said latter member when the receptacle is opened.

5. A letter-box comprising a fixed member having its back partly oblique and its front and bottom open, and a member, pivoted to the fixed member, adapted to close the front thereof and. having an inclined bottom adapted to close the bottom of the fixed. member, the rear edge of said bottom adapted to movalong close to the inner surface-of the oblique portion of the backof said latter member when the receptacle is opened, a staple on said fixed member, and a hasp secured to the pivoted member and adapted to automatic ally engage said staple to lock said pivoted member against being suificiently opened to remove the contents of the receptacle.

6. A letter-box comprising a fixed member and an automatically-closing member pivoted thereto, said fixed member having its front and bottom open, a staple on the inner surface of said fixed member, said pivoted member adapted to close the front of said fixed member and having a bottom adapted to close the bottom of the fixed member, a hasp carried by said bottom and adapted to engage said staple to lock said members against being sufiiciently opened to remove the contents of the receptacle.

7. A letter-box comprising a fixed member and an automatically-closing member pivoted thereto, said fixed member having its front and bottom open, a staple on the inner surface of said fixed member, said pivoted member adapted to close the front of said fixed member and having an oblique bottom adapted to close the bottom of the fixed member, a hasp carried by said bottom and adapted to engage said staple to lock said members against being sufficiently opened to remove the contents of the receptacle.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE L. PASK.

Witnesses:

G. L. JACKMAN, R. W. JosLYN. 

